投稿日: Nov 28, 2010 10:27:8 AM
From：Arse Licker
Hare: Sweetie
Sweeping Co-Hare: Fuller Air
Runners: 12-15 (perhaps, no newbie)
Distance 9.5km (on the GPS) but felt like 12km
Reporter: Rico (Enrique to others, to be named at a later Hash)
‘Twas a fine day for a run. Yes, a run more than a stroll in the lovely confines of the Zushi area. Sweetie was “back on top” of things after a long absence gallivanting in the Mediterranean with Dragonfly (Italy, I hear). Fuller Air looked bagged at 2:45pm (another MisManagement sighting after a long spell) but still chinned up and ran slowly at the rear of the pack. Inasmuch as the start time was declared to be 3:00pm sharp, stragglers found a way to show up JIT or a little after 3:00pm (Hymen, then Crusader… who both eventually finished well ahead of the rest of the pack.)
The trail started harmlessly meters from Higashi Zushi station up to the first checkpoint (Was there more than one?). As the course was meant to be a straightforward runners course, many brows were made crooked by the first checkpoint (five directional arrows?) and the elusive on-on to follow the said checkpoint (apparently, Sweetie had convinced Fuller Air to hold off on marking the on-on for just a few extra steps). After that, the promised two-mountain climb proved difficult yet highly rewarding.
The short road section, which was sandwiched by the mountain trails, was a welcome break from the vertical, as well as a good chance to clean off the slime and mud from the first section. Overall, I think the course was very well laid, albeit lacking the regular number of check backs and checkpoints (the strategic confabs and decision-making chinwags at checkpoints are part of what makes the Hash unique and fun).
Sweetie and Fuller Air laid a generous www-sc shortcut option which I believe (though unconfirmed) was taken by the majority after the lead pack. I must say that even though I was bitching like a rag-queen after mountain #3 as I was looking up at mountain #4’s incline , I can safely speak for all those that didn’t shortcut in saying that the view from the winding road after the last climb was absolutely priceless… Fuji-san outlined by an explosion of orange; that part of the run couldn’t have been timed better. I almost completely forgot about the knee pains, muscle cramps and single “reverse arrow” that pointed runners back the wrong way.
The goal was well chosen (and well stocked with cold bevies), a nice stretch of beach across from the eventual on-on with clean washrooms very nearby. Apparently, 2 cases of beer (thank you for not buying Happoushu) were down downed in the minutes between the first group pulling in (85 minutes after) and when the group took the 30 steps to the restaurant (which looked like fun from the outside as I waited for the bus.) Bisconte made more than enough yummy biscuits (Thanks!)
During the course of the afternoon, the temperature dropped considerably, and the next run (December 12) will probably need to start earlier as the days get shorter (or minimal post-run drinks, money difference going to a better cause, and into the warmth of the Fish restaurant). There was some talk about picking a charity and making contributions on the December Santa Claus run, hoping many people can make it (and bring friends too!)